Penny Manis
AC360 Senior Producer
Is there something fundamentally odd about seeing a President w/ his shirt off in an unsuspecting ‘celebrity-style’ pose that paparazzi snap and sell to tabloids? I’m talking about P-E Barack Obama in his swimsuit, a picture causing quite a buzz.
I will hand it to him, though, he's in shape. Move over Brad Pitt, the tabloids have a new subject. Who knew the Oval Office could become so glam?
Today P-E Obama releases a long-awaited internal investigation about his Transition team’s contacts with the office of controversial Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A major question is what role senior aides had in the ‘pay to play’ scandal, specifically related to P-E Obama’s old Senate seat.
According to sources, while there was some contact btwn P-E Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Blagojevich, there was no wrongdoing and this report will largely exonerate the transition team. Ed Henry will have the latest from Hawaii where he is covering P-E Obama (but Ed is keeping his shirt on).
Today Joe Biden chairs a meeting of the transition team’s top economic advisors as they ramp up efforts to piece together an urgent economic recovery package and sell the $775 billion plan to Congress.
And speaking of huge $$ packages, what did you think of the reports yesterday illustrating how little transparency there’s been in determining how the TARP (bailout money) has been spent by banks? Outrageous.
A surprising poll this morning: 74% of Americans believe that investment fraud like the recently revealed Ponzi sheme run by Bernie Madoff is a regular occurrence on Wall Street, so there are many cynics out there! 22% said government regulation is too tight, while 18% said the government's current market oversight is exactly right. Gov't regulation has been a hot topic since the credit crisis began.
The vast majority of Americans said they’d rather place money in a bank or stuff it under the mattress than invest in stocks or bonds. No wonder Wall St bankers are stressed out. How they are expressing their stress may surprise you. NY therapists tell us that the number of Wall St. bankers reporting an increase in sex addiction has tripled since the economy has tanked. Randi Kaye has this report tonight.
For those of you who still haven’t finished xmas shopping, here’s an idea. Joe Wurzelbacher (aka: Joe the Plumber) who became a blue collar poster boy during the final leg of the Prez campaign has a new book out offering his take on American values. Just what your significant other/uncle/mother wanted, right?
See u tonight!
| Cindy |
December 23rd, 2008 9:26 am ET Obama knew when he went to Hawaii that the photogs would be out in full force chasing him around for that ever elusive million dollar shot. I guess he gave it to them huh!? LOL Oh...fraud on Wall Street is rampant. It is an every day occurance. They all do scams and it is accepted. It's just when one is caught and brought out into the public eye that the others quiet down for a bit so as not to draw attention to themselves. You don't hear much outrage from Wall Street on Madoff. That's because they all do it. I am done with my shopping..thank God...so I'll have to pass on Joe's book! Not something I'd care to read or pass on to someone else either! Cindy...Ga. |
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| Michelle D. Fonthill,Ont |
December 23rd, 2008 9:42 am ET Good Morning AC 360 |
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| Heather,ca |
December 23rd, 2008 10:13 am ET I suppose if Bush was shirtless at his ranch where vacationed that might have been a big deal. I guess we are not used to seeing that unless you see Putin or Sarkozy on vacation one trying to manipulate the press the other trying to avoid it. I dont think Gov Blago is a angel. The Fitzgerald would not have done what he did if he did not feel he had enough evidence to do so. This is a lawyer you dont mess with. He is someone you can believe in and trust to do the job. |
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| missy |
December 23rd, 2008 10:35 am ET It is December 23. Just found out I no longer have a job. Any mention of the salary's and bonuses CEO's receive is something I do not want to hear about. Fraud and greed on Wall Street. What halppened to the honest every day working person like me struggling to get by, now without a job 2 days before Christmas. |
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| Jackie in Dallas |
December 23rd, 2008 11:29 am ET Ugh, who would WANT to see President Bush shirtless?! Tempest in a teapot, though. President Elect Obama is on a beach, therefore is topless. Duh. Now, if the paparazzi had caught Michelle topless, that might be news. It would be nice if we could give our President Elect and his family a little privacy, but if they are on a public beach, then I guess that they are fair game. If they are on private property, then between to local police and the Secret Service, they should have been shielded. The adult Obamas knew what they were getting into...but the little girls should be off limits altogether! Unless they are making a public appearance with their parents, I hope and pray even our news rags will leave them alone, much as the English news kept Princes William and Harry off limits in the first years after their mother's death. Malia and Sasha will have a hard enough time dealing with the attacks on their parents by political enemies, they don't need the added burden of being exploited by the paparazzi! |
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| Michelle |
December 23rd, 2008 11:32 am ET It is kinda of funny to see PE Obama in his swimming trunks. |
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| lois in NY |
December 23rd, 2008 3:59 pm ET The swim suit looks a little like the one Anderson Coopers wore on 60 minutes – I think AC is right in style. |
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